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Kannur-Mangaluru electrification work progress well: Palakkad DRM

Published On : 15 Aug 2015


Mangaluru (TOI): Ongoing rail electrification work from Kozhikode to Kannur is expected to be completed by December. Electrification work of Kannur - Mangaluru section is also progressing rapidly. A crucial bottleneck at interchanging point with Konkan Railway in Mangaluru area will be removed after doubling of 19 kms Mangalore junction-Panambur section. Six-km doubling work between Jokatte-Panambur is likely to be completed by March 2016.

Mentioning the above in his 69th Independence Day address at the divisional office, Palakkad, Anand Prakash, divisional railway manager said overall earnings of the division is on par with that of previous year. The division's earnings during the first four months of the fiscal was Rs 374.86 crore, of which Rs 207.57 crore is from passenger earnings, Rs145.68 crore from goods earnings, Rs 12.58 crore for other coach earnings and Rs 9.03 crores towards sundry earnings.

The division carried 2.56 crore passengers during April to July this year and transported 2.49 million tonnes of goods during this tenure. During the first 4 months of this fiscal, the mail/express trains in the division have shown 86.4% punctuality while the same for passenger train is 89.4%. The realistic recording and monitoring of train movement adopted by the Union Ministry of Railways has a direct bearing on improving punctuality aspect in real terms, he said.

The division is conducting regular safety awareness campaigns to remain accident-free. Warning boards are displayed at stations against climbing on structures/wagons/coaches. Even after repeated warnings, it is alarming that youngsters are attempting to take dangerous selfies from top of railway engines/coaches where OHE equipment is available. Passengers are found trying to board moving trains and end up getting trapped between platform and trains.

Integrated security system installed at Kozhikode and Mangaluru Central stations has helped the division obtain vital clues in eight criminal cases. Similar system of a limited version is being installed at Kannur station also. In the security field, a fine amounting to Rs 20,87,685 has been collected from offenders from April to July. Twenty five run away children have been traced and returned to their parents or child line activists during the year, Anand said. Division has taken up various passenger amenity projects worth Rs 37.51 crore while additional projects worth Rs 29.39 crore will be commenced this year.

The division has been sanctioned an amount of Rs 16.74 crore for 2015-16 for providing passenger amenities. Two passenger lifts at Palakkad Junction station are ready for commissioning. The installation work of one escalator at Palakkad junction and two lifts and two escalators at Mangaluru Central are in progress.


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